To whom this may concern, My name is Stefan von Engelbrechten and I am currently playing for the Stouffville Spirit Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club in the OJHL. My minor hockey coach, Phil Kestin, is hoping to advance himself to the next level of coaching and I believe my reference may help. Firstly, I would like to talk about my experience last year being a member of Phil Kestin’s Midget ‘AAA‘ Waxers team. Our team last year made it all the way to the OMHA Championships losing in double overtime. The results of our season were impressive but more important was how we got there. Coach Kestin took a group of guys who have never played together and taught them to work inside a system which benefited the team overall and not just individual talents. This helped us achieve a 60+ win season in which we held first place in our division by a wide margin. Starting in pre season camp many of us, who had played elite level minor hockey before, noticed something different about this team. There was a professionalism amongst the coaching staff and an intensity in training and practices that made us feel like this was another level of hockey altogether. Our team had strict schedules to keep on and off ice, weekly one-on-one video instruction and weekly off-ice conditioning training. Our team experienced a lot of success but despite this each week we would have a new set of goals and a new set of things to make us better. Coach Kestin didn’t want us becoming complacent leading up to the OMHA finals where he knew we would face elite teams. Phil's coaching style is one that a lot of people thrive under myself included. Phil is approachable and listens to the athletes concerns, players could approach Phil anytime electronically or in person and be listened too. Coach Kestin was also never afraid to lay down the law when we grew complacent. This type of coaching gains the respect from the players. Last season we grew to understand that Phil Kestin was incredibly knowledgeable about the sport including the physical and psychological workings of his players. I was amazed at the amount of time off-ice Phil spent preparing for his coaching role through video editing, practice planning and obtaining further qualifications through coaching courses. I know he also helps many coaches around Markham with their teams so we really appreciated his extended efforts. Coach Kestin helped me with my future whether it be through training and teaching or calling scouts and coaches. Many of us are playing Junior ‘A’ hockey, while others are playing Junior ‘B’/’C’ and our teammate Jeffrey Murray just signed a letter of intent with Canisius College. This letter of reference was requested to learn if Phil Kestin is qualified to be a head coach for a Jr. A hockey team. In my opinion along with many others Coach Kestin is ready for the next level. There is no doubt he will bring his winning attitude, his professional level of preparation and his open, honest demeanor to the Junior ‘A’ level of hockey. Sincerely, Stefan von Engelbrechten #25 on the Stouffville Spirit Jr. A To whom it may concern; I played for Phil for 3 years when he was my head coach at AAA and what a privilege it was. In those three years he took us to 2 OMHA Championships. The first time on paper we had no business being there but Phil has a great way of getting guys to play for him as a team. We weren’t the most talented team but Phil sure made sure we were the hardest working team. I now play for the Stouffville Spirit Jr. A. I honestly don’t think I would be where I am if it wasn’t for Phil. He dedicated so much of his time going over video and breaking it apart for us to watch, prepping for games we had coming up, and most importantly he did more than most coaches would outside of the rink. He takes to other coaches and gets his players gigs with Jr. A teams. Phil truly cares about his players and does as much as he can to help them get to the next level. Of all the coaches I have had, Phil is by far the best coach and my favourite. Also I don’t think I know anyone who loves hockey as much as he does. Phil is a great coach and would do great at the next level. Nathanael Halbert Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL To Whom It May Concern: I’m writing this as a reference for a former coach of mine Phil Kestin. I had the pleasure of playing for Phil in my Major Bantam 2009/2010 & Major Midget seasons 2011/2012 for the Markham Waxers. Phil was a real players coach and great to play for. He was an excellent communicator and was always positive and encouraging. Phil was a terrific motivator and knew how to push the player’s buttons to get them to perform. I always appreciated Phil’s open door policy and the ability to approach him for feedback or to share some ideas or observations with him. Phil was a very dedicated coach and loved being with the team. He worked really hard to make our hockey experience a fun and positive one and for that I thank him. Phil was a good practice coach and always demanded that we work hard. He also spent countless hours putting together video clips of each player’s game performance and then would provide individual constructive feedback before the next game. Not many minor hockey coaches would take the time to do that. The team was successful both years I played for Phil advancing to the OMHA Championship weekends. We weren’t the most skilled team but we were the hardest working team. That was Phil’s motto...work your butt off, stay positive and good things will happen. On a personal note I enjoyed a great deal of personal success as a result of Phil’s coaching and encouragement. I was one of the league’stop scorers playing for Phil in my Major Midget season. Thanks to Phil I became a hard working, confident, two way player which allowed me to take my game to the next level and secure a spot on the Newmarket Hurricanes Jr. A hockey team. Early in the 2012/2013 season while playing for the Hurricanes I earned a Division 1 NCAA scholarship with the Canisius Golden Griffins and I am looking forward to playing for them in the 2014/2015 season. Phil is a great guy and a wonderful coach to play for. He builds great teams and gets the most out of his players. I would highly recommend him as a coach. Sincerely, Jeff Murray To Whom It May Concern, My name is Sam Hu and I am writing this letter in support of Phil Kestin's future hockey- coaching endeavors, wherever they may be. Currently, I'm playing for the Newmarket Hurricanes in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, thanks in large part to Phil's guidance for me, as a coach. Though Phil only coached me for a single season, it was one filled with triumph, happiness and learning experiences. I had played my entire minor hockey career in the GTHL and, quite frankly, was extremely frustrated by the lack of dedicated coaching available. Looking for a change in scenery, I had heard, by word-of-mouth, about Phil's numerous successes with the Markham Waxers Midget AAA program. Fortunately, I was introduced to Phil through a mutual acquaintance and I signed on in spring of 2012 and the rest is history. Playing for the Waxers under Phil during the 2012-2013 Midget season, I had perhaps my most memorable and exciting year in hockey. We finished the campaign with well over 50 wins, ranked first in the OMHA ETA's West division and also 5th in the entire province. The season was highlighted by two tournament wins, most notably the Burlington Golden Horseshoe, which is arguably the largest midget tournament in Ontario. On a personal level, I was able to develop as a player with ample playing time, including tons of special teams opportunities, and Phil's well-structured, intense practices. These would usually include a detailed practice plan to review beforehand as well as video sessions where Phil would have broken down each individual player's strengths and weaknesses in a previous game. Phil's remarkable attention to detail and accountability influenced our team that year; Phil's values allowed us to be a tight-knit bunch who loved the game, had fun and was serious when called upon to do so. Above all, it is Phil's personality that truly separates him from the rest of the coaches I've had or I've seen. Phil is the definition of a "player's coach", meaning he's easy-going and quite approachable. Phil's was constantly doing things for his team, creating pre-game presentations, setting team goals, calculating statistics and even going out of town to scout. Simply put, Phil is a very likable man and he is down-to-earth; he is very passionate about hockey and does not put himself above everyone - this is the biggest reason why he commands respect from all players, parents and members of the organization. Phil is able to engage his players, surpassing the title of "coach" and becoming more of a friend and "mentor".